Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced the launch of the second Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) at the Navantia shipyard in Spain. The launch represented a major milestone in the shipbuilding process and was attended by the Chief of Navy, Vice
Brand-new £1bn destroyer HMS Dragon saluted the seven cruise ships of world’s famous P&O line last night as they gathered in the Solent to mark the firm’s 175th birthday. The seven liners – displacing more than half a million tonnes in total – conducted a sail past out of Southampton, with HMS Drago
USS Constitution and her crew got underway for her annual July 4th turnaround cruise in Boston Harbor, July 4. The cruise was Constitution’s second of 2012 and one of the last major events of Boston Navy Week, June 28-July 5. “There is simply no better way to celebrate Independence Day than being on
Work on building the Navy’s two newest boats—TAKAPU and TARAPUNGA—is advancing steadily at Opua in the Bay of Islands, at the hands of a team led by boatbuilder Perrin Clarke of Northland Spars and Rigging, under the eye of designer Alan Walker of Coastdesign Naval Architecture. Each 9.2 metres long
Teams from DCNS, the French Navy and defence procurement agency DGA recently completed a new test campaign aboard first-of-class FREMM multimission frigate Aquitaine, the last and most important being the first ever torpedo launch test from a FREMM frigate. After demonstrating FREMM frigate Aquitain
On June 27, the Netherlands Defence Materiel Organization and Thales Nederland signed an agreement to modify the four SMART-L volume search radars installed on the “De Zeven Provinciën” class air defence and command frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The new SMART-L radar will be optimized for
USS George Washington (CVN 73) arrived in Busan, Republic of Korea (ROK) June 27, for a port visit to foster relations with a longstanding ally of the United States. Welcomed on the pier by ROK military members and the ROK Navy Band, George Washington made its first port call of its 2012 patrol and
Portsmouth based warship HMS Ledbury will return home today after spending six months working alongside NATO counterparts in the Mediterranean Sea. The Hunt Class minehunter and her 42 crew sailed in early January. Since then Ledbury has clocked up 12,000 nautical miles and spent her time operating
A Raytheon Company Standard Missile-3 Block IB fired on June 27 from the USS Lake Erie has destroyed another ballistic missile target. The test marks the 21st successful intercept for the SM-3 program, a critical piece of the United States’ Phased Adaptive Approach for missile defense. “Today’s flig
USS Constitution won the gold level 2012 President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) for community service at the ship’s berth in Charlestown, Mass., June 26. The PVSA is divided into three levels: bronze, silver and gold. Groups must volunteer a minimum of 1,000 hours of community service to qualify
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced yesterday the completion of another successful sea trial as the amphibious transport dock Anchorage (LPD 23) returned from a three-day testing voyage in the Gulf of Mexico. The company’s seventh ship in the LPD 17 class returned Friday following rigorous testi
A delegation from the Libyan Navy has visited HMS Raleigh and Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) for an insight into the methods used by the Royal Navy to train new recruits. The delegation was led by Commodore Hassan Ali Bushnak, Chief Of Staff Libyan Naval Force. During their time at HMS Raleigh
Moorestown based Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors is being awarded a USD 21,093,600 modification to previously awarded contract by the Naval Sea Systems Command. The contract envisages technical engineering and maintenance of Navy Aegis sites in support of Aegis combat system development.
Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 (counter-piracy) held a a change of command ceremony aboard British Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Victoria, June 18. Rear Adm. Anho Chung, Republic of Korea navy, relieved Rear Adm. Tanin Likitawong, royal Thai navy, as commander. The ceremony concluded the royal Thai Navy
